Government plans Mass Transit System for Peshawar

PESHAWAR - The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Government has planned Mass Transit System for Peshawar under technical assistance of Asian Development Bank (ADB) to provide quality transport service to people of the city.KPK Minister for Transport, Information and Inter Provincial Coordination, Mian Iftikhar Hussain said while talking to media at a press conference on Thursday that as an special initiative Feasibility Study on Mass Transit System for Peshawar under technical assistance of ADB has been approved and Terms of Reference (TORs) has been prepared and hiring of international consultants and experts is under process. The feasibility study of the mega project would hopefully be completed by June next. Highlighting the achievements of Transport Department, he said the government has upgraded the routes of urban areas of Peshawar and ban was imposed on two-stroke Rickshaw along with ban on free registration of the rickshaw to overcome on transport’s problems.The Motor Vehicle Fitness Certification is also being computerized and the government has initiated a scheme to equip the MVEs with necessary machinery and equipments for proper checking of the public service vehicles instead of conventional checking.In last four and half years, the Transport Department had generated revenue receipts of Rs 493,110 million against the target of Rs 580.850 million which is 85 per cent against the accumulative target figures.To provide better public service provision, ensure transparency and discontinue pilferage revenue, the Government had started issuance of computerized route permits for Regional Transport Authority (RTA) Peshawar and PTA in January last year. Revenue receipts for period Jan-Dec 2012 has increased to Rs 92.524 million as against manual collection of Jan-Dec 2011 Rs.75million.In Addition to renewal of lease agreement with Daewoo Pakistan Express Bus Service (Pvt) Limited at monthly rent of Rs 1.2 million as against of Rs 0.207 million (generation of revenue-annual Rs 14.40 million for the government) and strengthening of international mobility between Pakistan and Afghanistan through steady enhancement of route permits from 6 to 13 numbers for better public transport service provision between the two states, the Government has strengthened Vehicular Emission Testing Station (VETS) and its offices in DI Khan, Abbottabd and Mardan for a clean environment were setup.Since July 2009 to December 2013, he said the VETS has checked 144,882 vehicles and generated revenue of Rs 16.596 million. Better Financial Management and monitoring of the financial affair of the Road Transport Board (RTB) as on 31-05-2011 RTB account amount was to Rs 2 million approximately, which is now has reached to Rs 60 million till December last year.Similarly, funds generated from RTB are being reinvested for improvement of Peshawar Bus Terminal for provision of quality services to people.The minister underlined the need for effective coordination among different public sector departments to provide quality transport services to people and regulate traffic. He said most of people of Pakistan associated with transport sector belonged to Khyber Pakthunkhwa and the government after coming into power merged Vehicle Testing Station, Driving License etc in Transport Department.The minister said all democratic forces are united on single point agenda to strengthen democracy and will strongly resist to an extra constitutional measures to derail this system. He said the country cannot afford political instability and ANP considered holding of general election on time is the country’s interest.Earlier, Secretary Inter Provincial Coordination, Mushtaq Jadoon appraised the newsmen about key merits of his department during the present Government tenure. After 18th constitutional amendment, he said great responsibly lied on his Department to defend the KP stance on important forms such Councal for Common Interest. He said his department deals matters under President and Prime Minister directives and Peoples Works Programme-II etc.Meanwhile, the Meteorological Office here Thursday predicted rain with snowfalls over the hills of Upper Khyber Pakthunkhwa during next 48 hours, which will make the weather cold and chilly.According to Met Office here, an intense and deep western disturbance is likely to approach western parts of Baluchistan on Friday and likely to extend up to most parts of the country on next day.This weather system would prevail three to four days, resulting in widespread rains with snowfall over the hills over Baluchistan, KPK, upper Punjab and Kashmir/ Gilgit- Baltistan.Mainly cold and dry and partly cloudy weather was expected in most parts of the country, however, light rain with light snowfall over the hills was likely at few places of Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan during next 24 hours.In next 48 hours, mainly cold and dry weather is expected in most arts of the country. However, isolated rain with snowfall over the hills is likely over northeast Baluchistan, upper KP, Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan.Weather remained cold, dry and partly cloudy in most parts of the country. However, light rain/drizzle occurred at few places of Upper Punjab and Upper Khyber Pakthunkhwa during last 24 hours.Parachinar has received maximum four millimeter rain while Islamabad, Skardu, Peshawar, Sargodha and Rawalpindi also received light showers during last 24 hours.